4500 riyal for a mech eng expat, married, good salary?

4.5k is already allowance? you need atleast 6.5k sar to live comfortably in KSA as a family.

@Mohd786 I don't think so living with family in Riyadh, please concider below cost of living

Food 1000 sar

Travel 100 sar

Water gas electricity 400 sar

Internet 100 sar

Rent 1600 sar

Dependent fee 400 sar

________________

Total 4000 sar ( and these are the basic expenses per month with minimum price)

Hi,

4500 SAR in Riyadh for a married couple (single income) is honestly quite tight, especially if your wife won’t be working. You can manage if you live in shared accommodation or outside central areas, keep groceries simple, and limit eating out — but it won’t feel very “comfortable,” more like basic living.

Rough idea:

Rent alone can take 1,500–2,500 SAR monthly (even more in central Riyadh). Groceries for two usually come around 800–1,200 SAR. Utilities + internet another 300–500. After that, transport and daily expenses add up quickly. Saving on this salary will be difficult unless housing is provided by the employer.

For mechanical engineering (oil field), Saudi still has opportunities, but with only 2 years experience, most companies offer entry-level packages. Better salaries usually come with 5+ years experience or specific certifications. If you can gain more experience or niche skills, your prospects improve a lot.

When I was planning my own budget here, I found it really helpful to calculate monthly expenses in advance using simple online calculators (age, budget, timelines etc.) — makes it easier to see whether an offer is realistic for family life.

Hope this helps, and wishing you the best with your move